Retaining means for building materials



March 1932- H. c. MORTENSON RETAINING MEANS FOR BUILDING MATERIALS Filed Nov. 8, 1950 zw l 66.

Patented Mar. 22,1932

r orjFIcE nanny c. mon'rnnson, or HIGHLANDPARK,

ENGINEERING (10., CHICAGO,

RETAINING means non BUILDING MATIEES Application filed November .The present invention relates to retaining means, and more particularly to such a retaining means adapted for receiving and retaining building materials such as tile, brick or the like. I Among the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel retaining means for building material, whereby material such asceramic tile, bricks and other building materials for either exterior or interior use,- can be readily placed and efficiently held in position, By reason of the present construc tio'n, such materials are automatically centered and held in their proper predetermined position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a retaining or holding means adapted to receive and retain building materials varying in their dimensions. It is a known fact that ceramic tile, brick or other building materials vary somewhat in their'dimensions, and thus a retaining means adapted to receive such materials and be a commercial product,emust be able to retain such materials efliciently even though the'same differ in one or more of their dimensions. 'The present invention is adapted-to receive andhold the building material in proper alignment regardless of such inaccuracies.

A still further object of the mvention 1s periphery, sides or edges thereof, and retain the same in its adjusted position. By reasonof these spring fingers, the'buildmgmaterv rials are self-centered and when clamped or forced into a predetermined adjusted position, the same are held by reason of the pressure of the spring fingers thereagainst. The building materials or blocks adapted to be received and retained, need not be changed in any particular from the commercial prodducts now on the market, nor need these.

blocks be made of precise-dimensions in order to be retained, in view: of the adjustability of the holding means. Although these spring fingers are ordinarily sufiicient for retention of the building materials, Inevertheless cons, 1930. Serial no. teases.

template the provision of cement or the like intermediate the back or base of the screen and the material being retained, as well as the provision of cement or the like around the periphery or contour of the material.

A'further object is to provide a construction whereby the laying or setting of tile, brick or other building materials, in the side walls, either exteriorly or interiorly, ceiling or floor, can be readily and etficiently accomplished byunskilled labor, whereby the cost of constructing or remodeling buildings may be decreased In the present method of building construction, the labor required to assemble the structure is highly excessive, such cost frequently being'the major item in the initial cost of the building. By reason of the. present construction, no experience. is necessary in the setting of these blocks or building materials for the reason that the same, are self-centered when forced into position. The blocks or bnilding materials are automatically aligned, and all that is necessary is to force the blocks or building materials into the screen to a depth whereby the face or outer surface of the block is in proper surface alignments Further objects are to provide a construc- .tion of maximum simplicity, efficiency, econ-' omy and ease of assembly and detachment, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities aswill later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

The invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangements of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawlngs, and while I have shown therein a preferred embodiment, it is ,to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change, and comprehends other details, arrangements of parts, features and construe tions without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Referring to the drawings: Fig. l is a view in side elevation of a fragment of the novel retaining means.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in vertical cross section taken. 'on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. A Fig. 3 is: a fragmentary view in vertical cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

throughout their greater extent, the

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawings, the embodiment selected to illustrate the invention is shown as stamped or formed with outwardly bent fingers or flanges 2. In a copending application Serial No. 434,389 filed March 8, 1930, I have disclosed a somewhat similar sheet of metal provided with struck up fingers or flanges which are constructed and arranged to fit around and engage ledges or flanges provided or formed in the tile or brick or other building units. In lieu of this arrangement and particularly for the purpose of providing a retaining means which is capable of engaging and retainingstandard commercial tile, brick or other building units the fingers or flanges 2, as clearly shown in Figure 3, are stamped or punched from the metal sheet at 3, and then bent backwardly or inwardly end 4 thereof then being bent outwardly. These fingers or flanges are so formed as to readily intercept a block of tile or the like 5, and tensionally engaging thesides and retaining the block in properly adjusted positiontherebetween. Being bent backwardly or inward-' ly, the flanges are adapted to receive blocks of varying dimensions with a retaining force suflicient to hold these blocks in predetermined position.

Should the building units or blocks be greater dimensions than the spaces between the flanges 2, the intermediate flanges which would be covered by such a unit or block, being of pliable material, could be readily and easily bent downwardly into the sheet or backing 1. Thus the retaining means or mesh can be standardized since it will receive and retain blocks or units of varying sizes and shapes, affording a considerable saving in construction and labor.

Intermediate the stamped out flanges 2, the sheet or screen 1 is-cut or bent at 6 to provide outwardly extending flanges 7., These flanges 7 are located so as to be impinged ,by

the building blocks 5 intermediate the edges thereof, the purpose of the flan es '7 being to permlt proper alignment of the blocks regardless of any discrepancy in the thickness thereof. Should one of'the blocks 5 extend beyond its adjacent block, all that is neces sary to properly align the same is to force the block inwardly so as to bend the flange 7 downwardly or backwardly until the blocks are all in proper surface alignment. .This

can be readily accomplished by means of a wooden block, mallet, or other means which K1111 1have no tendency to fracture or injure the 'As' clearly disclosed in Figs. 1 and 3, the

spring flanges 2 are staggeredand out of alignment (as clearly shown in Fig. 3) so as to adapt themselves to blocks of varying lengths or widths. x

ed as to receive the blocks 5 in comprising a screen or sheet of metal 1,

The screen or sheet may be provided with the stamped-out portions or flan es 2 so locatoth vertical and horizontal alignment, or the same may be formed to receive and retain building blocks positioned in staggered relation. The screen 1 may also be made of any desired size depending upon the purpose, shape and size of the wall, ceiling, etc., to which the same is to be applied. As shown in Fig. 2, the screen'or sheet 1 is attached to a base 8 of suitable backing'material. This backing may be placed either exterior or interior of a building, on

either of the walls, ceiling, floor or wherever desired. After such preliminary work has been completed and it is desired to anchor the building blocks 5, cement 9 may be spread in any suitable manner upon the face of the screen 1 and in the cut-out portions 3 and 6.

The building blocks or units 5 are then forced over the curved'ends 4 of the flanges 2 until they have been set to the proper depth, such depth being regulated by the flanges 7. The edges of the blocks or unit contacting the upper curved portion 4 of the flanges 2, spread the spring flanges to permit the blocks or units to be inserted, and when they are in place, against the sides of the blocks to hold the blocks in their proper position. If it is found that certain of the blocks are not in proper surface alignment with the remainder, such blocks may be forced or driven inwardly until the flanges 7 have been bent downwardly or rearwardly suflicient to allow these blocks to have proper surface alignment with the remainder.

After such assembly and arrangement, further cement or the like 10 may be inserted by any suitable means intermediate the adjacent blocks or units to provide a neat assembly an additional retaining means for holding the these flanges exert suflicient tension,

blocks or units in position. The cement on' i the back of the building block or unit and around the edges thereof, combine with the spring flanges 2 to anchor and retain these blocks or units in position whereby the same become substantially a permanentconstruction, although it will be readily seen. that damage to one of the blocks or units will not necessitate the tearing out of the entire assembly, but merelythe removal of the damaged unit and the insertion of a new unit in a manner similar to the original assembly.

The retaining sheet or screen 1 when attached to the back, aflords stability and rigidity thereto, thus permitting a saving in material making up the wall construction. The spring flanges may be of any desired size,

and'any desirable spacing thereof may be provided, depending merely upon the material that is to be retained. Thesespring flanges along with the cement placed on the screen and anchored in and around the openings 3 and 6, provides an efiicient clamping and anchoring means for the blocks or building units.

From the above disclosure, it will be readily seen that the present construction will afford a considerable saving in the cost and time consumed in erecting a structure, as Well as provide a more etficient building construction than is possible by the present commercial methods that are being employed. The metal sheet or screen being of relatively thin material, one workman may easily hang the same and set the building units therein.

Having thus disclosed my invention,

I claim:

1. A retaining means forbuilding blocks, comprising a sheet of pliable material, outwardly extending resilient flanges formed in said sheet to tensionally receive and retain said blocks, said flanges being suitably spaced apart and adjacent flanges being staggered to provide a frictional retaining means for adjacent blocks.

2. A retaining means for building blocks, comprising a sheet of pliable material, out- Wardly extending resilient flanges formed in I said sheet, said flanges being suitably spaced apart and adjacent flanges being staggered to provide a retaining means for gripping the sides of said blocks with sufficient tension to prevent ready disengagement thereof.

3. A retaining means for building blocks, comprising a sheet of pliable material, outwardly extending resilient flanges formed in said sheet, said flanges being suitably spaced apart and adjacent flanges being staggered, said staggering permitting the reception and retention of adjacent blocks of varying dimensions.

4. A retaining means for building blocks, comprising a sheet of pliable material, outwardly extending resilient flanges formed in said sheet, said flanges being suitably spaced apart and adjacent flanges oppositely bent to frictionally and tensionally receive adjacent blocks.

5. A retaining means for building blocks, comprising a sheet of pliable material, outwardly extending resilient flanges formed in said sheet, said flanges being suitably spaced apart and adjacent flanges being staggered and oppositelybent to receive and retain adjacent blocks of Varying dimensions.

6. A retaining means for building materials, comprising a sheet of metal provided with outwardly extending resilient flanges adapted to receive blocks of building materials such as tile, brick orthe like, said flanges being so formed as to intercept such building materials even thoughthe same may vary in their dimensions, and means formed in the base of the sheet against which the back-of the blocks may impinge, said means being adapted to be compressed to permit surface alignment of adjacent blocks regardless of variation in their thickness.

7. A retaining means for building materials, comprising a sheet of metal provided with outwardly extending resilient flanges adapted to receive blocks of building materials such as tile, brick or the like, said flanges being so formed as to intercept such building materials even though the same may vary in their dimensions, and flanges in the base of the sheet adapted to be contacted by the back of said blocks. I

8. A retaining means for building materials, comprising a sheet of metal provided with outwardly extending resilient flanges adapted to receive blocks of building materials such as tile, brick or the like, said flanges being so formed as to intercept such building materials even though the same may vary in their dimensions, and additional flanges adapted to be compressed by the inserted block to permit proper surface alignment of adjacent blocks regardless of variation in their thickness.

9. A retaining means for building blocks, comprising a sheet of pliable material, outwardly extending resilient flanges formed in said sheet, said flanges being suitably spaced apart and adjacent flanges being staggered to provide a tensional and frictional retaining means for adjacent blocks, and means formed in the base of the sheet against which the back of the blocks may impinge, said means being adapted to be compressed to permit surface alignment of adjacent blocks regardless of variation in their thickness.

10. A. retaining means for building blocks, comprising a sheet of pliable material, outwarclly extendin resilient flanges formed in said sheet, said anges being suitably spaced apart and adjacent flanges being staggered, said staggering permitting the reception and retention of blocks of varying dimensions,

and flanges in the base of the sheet adapted to be contacted by the back of said blocks.

11. A retaining means for building units such as tile, brick or the like, comprlsing a sheet of metal adapted to form a backing for a plurality of such building units, said sheet being provided with outwardly projecting resilient flanges curved inwardly near their outer ends for contact with the outer edges of the building units whereby to engage and tensionally retain said units therebetween.

12. A retaining means for building units such as tile, brick or the like, comprising a sheet of pliable metal adapted to retain a plurality of said units and formed with projecting spring fingers curved inwardly for contact with the outer edges of the units whereby to receive and direct said units into retaining position therebetween.

13. A retaining means for building units such as tile, brick or the like, comprising a sheet of material adapted to retain a pluralwith the outer edg spring flanges bent of the sheet, sai

wardly near the ends engage and retain the the exterior thereof.

In witness whereof my name to this speci HENRY outwardly from the body d flanges being curved mthereof for contacting es of the units whereby to units by a gripping of I hereunto subscribe fication.

G. MORTENSON. 

